Next generation SCADA security: best practices and client puzzles

Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are found throughout the public utility industry. As part of our national critical infrastructure, SCADA systems are used to monitor, control and manage spatially separated utility sites. SCADA systems are mirroring the rapid changes occurring in the larger information technology (IT) and networking industry by becoming more flexible and at the same time more interconnected. These primitive systems are being upgraded using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and software, and are being migrated to standard data formats and network protocols, particularly transport control protocol (TCP) for end-to-end control. Throughout this transition, SCADA system networks must be well defended and maintain the level of service required by their customers.